The parents of a California-based Marine who died from last year’s crash of a MV-22B Osprey in Waima-nalo are suing the manufacturers of the twin tilt-rotor aircraft.
Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Determan, 21, of Ahwatukee, Ariz., and Lance Cpl. Joshua Barron, 24, of Spokane, Wash., died from injuries they suffered when their Osprey crashed at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows while attempting to land.
Barron died May 17, the day of the crash. Determan died two days later.
There were 19 other Marines and a sailor aboard the Osprey. Most suffered injuries.
Determan’s parents, Michael J. and Charlesa A. Determan, filed a lawsuit against the Boeing Co., Bell Helicopter Textron and Eaton Aerospace in U.S. District Court on Monday. Each of the companies designed, developed, manufactured and assembled various parts of the aircraft.
The Osprey’s tilt rotors allow it to take off and land like a helicopter yet fly like a plane.
The lawsuit claims that the aircraft was defective in that it did not conform to design specifications spelled out by the U.S. government and required for operating and hovering in reduced-visibility environments. It also alleges that the defendants failed to include adequate safety measures and warnings.
Spokesmen for Boeing and Bell Helicopter (which encompasses Eaton Aerospace) referred requests for comment to the Marine Corps.
Marine Corps spokeswoman Capt. Sarah Burns said in a statement the Marines are committed to ensuring their aircraft are safe and that aircrews who fly them are thoroughly trained. She said the Marines diligently investigate mishaps.
The Marine Corps said that particular Osprey, called Mayhem 11, went into free fall after its left engine stalled due to repeated, sustained flight time in severe brownout or dusty conditions. The Marines said a buildup of sand and dust on the turbine blades and vanes caused the engine to stall, which decreased lift and resulted in the crash.
The Marines said the pilots did not violate any regulations or flight standards, but faulted them for not choosing an alternate flight profile, path or landing site after their first landing attempt indicated that the dust cloud created by the aircraft was thicker and higher than expected.
In direct response to the crash, the Naval Air Training Command changed operating procedures for the Osprey reducing the amount of time the aircraft should be operated in reduced-visibility landings.
The Marines later published a more than 2,200-page report of its investigation into the crash that found there was no on-site examination of the landing zones, the Mayhem 11’s landing zone did not meet the recommended size for reduced-visibility conditions, the plan for the possibility of a mass-casualty event was inadequate, and not all of the participants in the mission knew or understood the medical evacuation plan.
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The Associated Press contributed to this story.
